McKees are delighted to be partnering with local NI charity Dementia NI this year to raise funds to help them to improve the lives of people living with dementia.
Dementia NI is a unique and dynamic local charity, working alongside people with dementia to empower them to live well and drive positive change in services and policy. Our members are all individuals living with a diagnosis and are at the heart of everything we do.
There are around 20,000 people with dementia in Northern Ireland and this number is projected to rise to 60,000 by 2050. It can be a challenging time when you’re diagnosed with dementia. It can bring major changes to a person’s life and affect their confidence. We are here to help people with dementia through that and empower them to live well and maintain their independence for longer.
Where it all started
Dementia NI was founded in 2015 by five people in NI with dementia. Our founding members shared core beliefs that people with dementia should be involved in decisions that affect their own lives. They felt that too often the voice of the person with dementia was not being heard and due to that stigma, people were sometimes even afraid to talk to them. The original group also wanted to raise awareness about what dementia is.
Since then, Dementia NI has grown into a leading dementia charity in Northern Ireland with around 80 members. We have established Dementia Empowerment Groups throughout Northern Ireland. These provide a place for members, who all have a diagnosis of dementia, to come together, share experiences, and provide peer support. Through the Groups, members consult with other organisations and professionals on how to improve their engagement with people with dementia.
Having our voices heard
Our members tell us the Groups give them the opportunity to make new friends, feel less isolated and be part of their community. It helps them regain confidence and lost self-esteem following a diagnosis. The Groups provide the opportunity for members to have their own space and voice their opinions which can help them feel valued, respected and listened to.
“Since joining Dementia NI, the support I have received has really helped me. After my first group meeting, I felt better. Getting to meet the other members has provided me with confidence and a new outlook”– Davie McElhinney, Dementia NI member and Trustee
Driving positive change
Dementia NI members have the power to influence and change what happens in their world, whether at home or in the wider community. For example, they worked collaboratively with the PSNI to introduce the Herbert Protocol to Northern Ireland, an initiative which helps police locate people with dementia should they go missing. You can find out more about the Herbert Protocol on our website: https://www.dementiani.org/campaigns/herbert-protocol
Raising awareness
Our members also provide training and education to organisations and the public on how to live well with dementia. By raising awareness, we challenge the stigma of having a diagnosis and offer support to others who are in the same boat and living with the symptoms.
All money raised here stays here
We cannot do this work alone. As a local charity we rely on the support and generosity of people like you. Your donation helps us make real and meaningful change. All money raised here stays here to improve the lives of people living with dementia across Northern Ireland. To find out more about our work or donate please go to www.dementiani.org – you can also call us on 02896 931555 where one of our team will be happy to help.
The Herbert Protocol
Recent research shows around 70% of people with dementia may go missing at least once, with many at risk of going missing multiple times. That’s why Dementia NI members campaigned to bring the Herbert Protocol to Northern Ireland. The Herbert Protocol enables people with dementia to go out and about in the knowledge that this form will help police find them more quickly should they become lost. It provides peace of mind for people with dementia and their relatives – it could even save someone’s life. Click below to download the form today.
Download the form today – Herbert Protocol | PSNI
